How many times have YOU had a fever? I don't think I can even count how many times I have had one. And mom would always give me something to help, if I was absolutely miserable, but not to bring the fever down.
I never really thought about it until I was much older and a nanny, what a fever really was, and what its job was.
Do YOU know?
I am not going to assume that everyone knows, but they should, that a fever is essentially a fight, something bad( germs, bacteria, virus) got into your system, and your body ( white blood cells, etc) are fighting it, like a little war.
If you give the body medicine to reduce the fever, it doesn't fight as hard, and the illness wins and stays longer.
Sure if you have a really high fever, you should treat it, that's not good.
But let the fever fight, that is what its there for.
I was browsing around the interwebs and found this wonderful article, very well written and simple about what a fever really is, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-causes-a-fever/
When my own kiddos get a fever, I will typically just let it run its course, make sure they stay hydrated and comfortable. If they are in pain, I will give them something for the pain, but not usually for the fever.
Of course, this information would have been helpful in the years around my first child, when he would get a fever, I would freak out, and jump up for the Tylenol or Advil...when he was teething, or maybe a small bug..had I know then, what I know now, I would have treated it much differently.
This is why I am writing this particular post, the share this information with anyone who doesn't know the true nature of a fever, and what to do.
Here is another blog post that I would like to share, its lists some very valid reasons to not treat a fever in children. https://www.bewell.com/blog/why-you-usually-shouldn%E2%80%99t-treat-a-fever/
Here is hoping that your kiddo(s) remain fever free this season. !! And if not, let their bodies fight the good fight!!
